Run: 2026-09-02-01M1H5837PFMR7D2RG8KZSK4MV

Molly spread the blueprint across the van's hood and weighted the corners with two coffee cups and a bag of gummy worms. "Okay, Bill. The Hendersons' backyard. Saturday, two p.m. Twelve children, one bouncy castle, and approximately thirty presents sitting under a folding table with a cardboard sign that says 'Birthday Presents.' They labeled it, Bill." "Generous of them." "It's like they want us to take it." "Which, to be fair, we do." Molly tapped the blueprint. "Here's the problem. The bouncy castle. It's got sightlines over the entire fence line. Some seven-year-old launched out of it will see us vaulting the back fence with our arms full of Lightning McQueen loot bags." "So we go in disguise." "Bill, you are not wearing the clown nose again." "The clown nose worked at the zoo job." "You got thrown in the penguin enclosure." "The penguins respected me." She rubbed her temples. "New plan. We don't climb the fence. We walk through the front door." "As what?" "As parents." "That's identity fraud, Molly. That's a whole different crime." "It's the same crime with extra steps. You're Uncle Randy from Tucson. I'm his wife, Denise. We heard about the party from the neighbor, brought a gift, would love to stay for cake." "Where'd you get a name like Uncle Randy?" "It was my goldfish's name. Show some respect." Bill chewed a gummy worm thoughtfully. "What about the actual guests? They'll have questions." "Children don't ask questions, they ask for things. And their parents will be staring at their phones drinking boxed wine. This is the easiest gig of our careers." "What about the kid? The birthday kid? What if the kid sees Uncle Randy taking the presents?" "Then you give the kid a gummy worm and say, 'This is a magic trick, buddy.'" "That's your master plan? Bribery with gummy worms and an emotional support lie?" "Bill, we stole a Fabergé egg from a man with three bodyguards and a Doberman named Princess. We can outwit a room full of first graders." "Princess was a good dog, though. She let me hold her." "Stay focused. Saturday. You wear the Hawaiian shirt and khakis. Nothing that says burglar." "This is burglar?" Bill gestured at his all-black outfit, complete with fingerless gloves and a beanie. "That says burglar at a funeral. That says burglar doing an ollie in a parking lot. Put on some New Balance and carry a casserole and nobody on earth will look at you twice." "A casserole, huh." Bill nodded slowly. "A casserole does say 'I belong here.'" "Thank you." "Should the casserole be real?" "Bill, we are stealing presents from children. We are not going to also lie about a casserole." "That's your moral line? The casserole?" "The casserole is where I draw it." He picked up the blueprint, folded it, and tucked it into his jacket. "Alright. Uncle Randy and Denise from Tucson. What's our exit strategy?" "You give the kid a wave, we say the casserole needs checking on, and we walk out the front door with thirty presents and a full heart." "And if the kid asks us to stay for cake?" Molly paused. "Then God help us both, Bill."